Temple's Speciality:

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The presiding deity Lord Muruga's idol is made of nine precious herbals known as Navapashana and installed by a Holy Siddha named Bogar. The procession deity is Muthukumaraswami. This is the third of the six Army Camps (Padai Veedu) of Lord Muruga.

Tamil Nadu

Nakshatra

Deity

Address:

Opening Time:

Tiru Aavinan Kudi, hill temple and Perianayaki Temple all the three temples are open from 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Festivals:

Vaikasi Visakam in May-June, Aipasi Skanda Sashti in October–November, Tirukarthikai in November-December, Thaipoosam in January–February and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Temple History:

The history of the temple begins from Mount Kailash with a mango fruit brought by Maharshi Narada. Child Muruga left His parents and came to this place as He could not get the mango for not fulfilling the condition to get the fruit. Lord Shiva followed Him. Lord Muruga halted at this place. Mother Parvathi did Her best for a compromise. But the Son was unrelenting and expressed His desire to stay here itself.

A temple came into being for Kuzhandai Velayuthar as He was a child (kuzhandhai) then. The Great woman Tamil poet Avvaiyar, known not only for her poetic excellence but also for wisdom, called Muruga Pazham Nee and the place came to be known as Pazhani. Pazham in Tamil means fruit and also ripe knowledge.

Another Legend goes like this: Idumban was carrying two hills, Shivagiri and Shakti Giri to Pothigai as commanded by Sage Agasthya. Shivagiri has Lord Shiva attributes and Shaktigiri has that of Mother Parvathi. Idumban placed these mounts down here as he could not bear the weight. Lord Muruga stood on Shaktigiri and refused to come down despite Idumban's repeated demands. When Idumban decided to fight against the Lord, He showered His grace on him and kept with Him. As Muruga was holding a Danda-staff, the Lord came to be known as Dandayuthapani. Siddha Bogar who was here, made an idol of Navapashana (nine herbals) and installed in the temple. He became the presiding deity of the hill temple and became popular among the devotees.

Dandam also means a cane a tool for punishment. Lord Muruga graces here as a teacher explaining the uncertainties of life. As a teacher, He holds the Danda to correct erring pupils. In His ascetic form, Lord Muruga also teach people to shed the natural evils of greed, lust, etc. in their mind and be free from passions leading to misery.

Siddha Bogar, living here then was treating people with herbals. He was assisted by his disciple Pulipani. All devotees are indebted to Bogar for gifting us Lord Himself. His monument is within the temple.

The parrot on the Danda of Lord Muruga has a fascinating religious story. There was a wicket poet Sambandandan jealous of the saint poet Arunagiriar and thought of a revenge plan to eliminate him. He used his influence on King Prapuda Deva Raya requesting him to ask the saint poet to get the Parijatha flower from heaven to prove his supremacy. Arunagiriar flew into the sky in a parrot form leaving his human form in the Tiruvannamalai tower. This is an exercise called Koodu Vittu Koodu Paithal – leaving the original body form in a safe place and enter into the body of another – for noble purposes. After completing the mission, the performer leaves the adopted body and re-enter into his own.

When Arunagiriar left with his parrot body in search of the Parijatha flower, wicked Sambandandan found the human body of the saint and cremated it so that Arunagiriar cannot re-enter into his original body and appear in his human form and be his competitor. When Arunagiriar was shocked to see his body burnt, Lord Muruga blessed him by having his parrot form in His staff.

Greatness Of Temple:

Muruga is the Lord of the Tamil language. The Great woman Tamil poet Avvaiyar calls Lord Muruga a Siddha meaning one doing miracles. This is a place where ancient Chera and Pandya kings had the Lord in their very hearts.

The Panchamirtham, a preparation for Lord Muruga's abishek made of five ingredients is globally famous. The preparation cell is completely modernized with advanced machines.

The temple has a golden peacock, the vehicle of Lord Muruga and also a golden car-rath. The golden car pulling is followed by devotees almost each day fetching huge revenues to the temple.

The land has the reputation of having great and divine Siddhas as its inhabitants whose heirs are believed to be still living in the places around the temple region. It is also noteworthy, that this is the first temple in Tamilnadu, bringing heaps of revenue to the Government. Now a winch facility is also made available for the convenience of the aged.

The temple was built 1,300 years ago by King Cheraman Peruman. Renovations were carried out during the period of Tirumalai Naicker. The temple is lavishly praised in ancient scriptures and Tamil epics.

Thai Poosam:This is a great festival of the temple. Lord Nataraja performed His Ananda Thandava on the Margazhi (December-January) Tiruvadhirai day which Mother Uma enjoyed sitting close to the stage. She desired that She too perform one similar to the Lord's. Sages Vyakrapada, Patanjali and others came to see Mother's dance which took place on the Poosa star day in Thai month –January-February. This is Thai Poosam festival. The day thus belongs to Mother Uma. But it is celebrated in Palani greatly, the place of Lord Muruga importance.

Mother Perianayaki graces in a separate shrine with Lord Kailasanathar. Lord Muruga temple is in between the shrines. The main tower and the flag post Kodimaram are before the Muruga shrine. Those who enter the temple begin worshipping Muruga first. The flag hoisting ceremony begins from here only and thus came to be associated with Muruga tradition. Thai Poosam festival is even now celebrated at the Ambica shrine only. Procession deity Muthukumaraswami is taken through the streets each day. The car festival takes place on the seventh day.